After the positive results of 2013, Brazilian shipments of lime continue apace and the European market remains the main destination of the fruit.
According to information published by CEPEA/ESALQ during the first quarter of 2014, exports exceeded by 15% the volume of shipments in the same period last year. This increase was due to the good quality of the fruit, which favoured international demand.
International sales are expected to remain strong at least until May, when São Paulo's supply decreases and Mexico, Brazil's main competitor, starts harvesting Tahiti lime.
According to SECEX, Brazil exported 25,600 tons of lime abroad between January and March 2014, which resulted in U.S. $ 21.2 million in revenues, 11% more than in the same period of 2013.
Since the Brazilian currency is currently valued higher than the dollar, the revenues in Reais were even better for exporters.
According to the information published by CEPEA/ESALQ, Mexico's lime production could have problems, due to the reduced flowering, a result of the hurricanes in September 2013, and the effects that virescence has had on crops.
As a result, prices have increased, especially for products exported to the United States, and producers have been encouraged to harvest all of their fruits, even those of smaller size.
Finally, according to CEPEA's survey, the good pace of lime shipments and the good industrial demand mitigated the declines in domestic prices during the supply peak in São Paulo (February- April). Therefore, prices were much higher when compared to the previous year; a 27 kilo box of Tahiti limes achieved an average price of 9.53 reais in the period between January and March, 66% more than in the same period of 2013.
Orange juice
Regarding exports of orange juice to all destinations, the information indicates that the volume decreased in the 2013/14 harvest (which ranges from July 2013 to March 2014). According to SECEX, the volume exported by Brazil during the 2013/14 harvest was 2% lower than the 884,400 tons exported in the same period of the previous season.
Sales to the European Union amounted to 577,200 tons, 4% less than in the previous season.
Source: Fresh Fruit Portal